In The Back Of A Pickup?

June 22, 1986|By Harry Straight and Donna Blanton of the Sentinel Staff

HAND IT TO state Rep. Carl Carpenter, D-Plant City, for knowing how to jerk around lobbyists almost as much as they jerk around lawmakers. Carpenter, chairman of the Regulated Industries and Licensing Committee, grew tired during the legislative session of lobbyists for competing telephone companies -- Ralph Haben of GTE and Ron Brower of AT&T -- repeatedly badgering him to go to lunch to discuss a particular bill. He invited both to lunch on the same day and loaded them into the back of his pickup truck, where they sat on white chairs with their expensive ties and haircuts blowing in the wind. Carpenter drove across town to a motel restaurant where the lobbyists were forced to present their divergent positions on the bill to a mock committee -- consisting primarily of other lobbyists -- convened by Carpenter. The committee held a vote, which resulted in a tie.